Chapter 11
Surely Chief Kwon hadn't heard what she and Minho were talking about.
Feeling nervous, Jaekyung quickly pulled her hands away from Minho and stepped back.
“I have to go. Oh, and your engagement ring is at the office. I'll return it next time. No... I'll send it by delivery.”
“Return it? What do you mean? We're getting married this year.”
“Secretary Seo! The chairman is looking for you! The event is starting, so hurry!”
Chief Kwon waved urgently from a distance.
Jaekyung waved back.
She had to end this three-month relationship with Minho as quickly as possible.
“Minho, there won't be any marriage between us.”
She took a breath.
“And let's break up. Okay? We're over.”
Her voice softened.
“I'm sorry.”
“What? Break up? Jaekyung!”
Jaekyung had ended the relationship almost casually.
Watching her hurry away without even turning back, Minho became certain something bad had happened to her.
It couldn't be easy for her to escape the threats of a chaebol family when she couldn't even freely wear the expensive engagement ring he had given her.
Right now, he was the only person who could help Jaekyung for the sake of their love.
“You were... huff... looking for me?”
By the time Jaekyung reached the front of the main building, she was breathing hard.
Yugam slowly looked over the short-sleeved sportswear that showed the curves of her body.
His expression immediately turned displeased.
“What were you doing that made you run around like that?”
“I had... huff... something to inspect.”
“There was that much to check?”
Yugam looked toward the far side of the field.
“Let's go inspect the booths behind the playground together.”
Jaekyung stiffened.
That was exactly where she had been talking to Minho.
It was almost as if Yugam had been watching her.
“No. I've already checked that area.”
She quickly continued,
“Everything is clean and organized. There isn't any trash.”
Yugam still looked unconvinced.
He started walking in the direction where Minho had been.
If those two met, it would definitely become noisy.
And since Jaekyung had just broken up with Minho, she had no idea what he might say.
“Chairman, you need to head to the stage.”
Thankfully, Chief Kwon's report stopped Yugam.
“The opening ceremony is starting soon.”
Yugam paused.
Then he turned to Jaekyung.
“Secretary Seo. Divide the area and make sure the facilities are properly managed so none of the students get hurt.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Jaekyung secretly pressed a hand to her chest in relief.
Pretending nothing had happened, she sent Yugam's instructions to the staff group chat.
Not only Jaekyung, but every member of the school staff was busy checking the large-scale event, which included outside guests.
Jaekyung skipped lunch while checking the next schedule.
Then several students she had taught for the past month surrounded her.
“Teacher Jaekyung! Please run the class relay for us. Our homeroom teacher has indigestion and can't run.”
The Class 1 students had always liked Jaekyung even when she was only an assistant teacher.
They gathered around her happily.
Jaekyung couldn't bring herself to refuse.
After getting permission from Chief Kwon, she stood beside the track and stretched with the students.
The homeroom teacher of the neighboring class approached her.
“Teacher Seo, don't feel pressured. If you fall, I'll catch you.”
Jaekyung smiled awkwardly.
“Just hearing that gives me strength, Teacher Choi.”
At that moment, she saw Yugam walking down from the VIP seats while rubbing his chin.
A sudden sense of déjà vu hit her.
“Touch it.”
In the darkness of their old bedroom, her husband had once taken Jaekyung's hand and made her rub his chin.
“It's rough.”
“My wife should shave me.”
“I don't know how to shave... and it's dark.”
“Then turn on the light.”
“If we turn on the light... that violates the contract.”
Seeing Yugam lightly rub his chin brought the forgotten memory rushing back.
Jaekyung's mouth went dry.
As though he had noticed her trembling thoughts, Yugam silently approached.
“Secretary Seo.”
His tone was cold.
“Don't you know private jokes are forbidden during working hours?”
“I wasn't joking.”
Ignoring Yugam's warning, Jaekyung walked past him as if she didn't care.
She could feel his gaze burning into her back.
Still, she headed toward the starting line and explained the relay order and safety instructions to the students.
Yugam looked at the male teacher beside Jaekyung.
“What's that teacher's name?”
Chief Kwon followed Yugam's cold gaze.
“Ah... He's Choi Woosoo, the first-year math teacher.”
Chief Kwon had memorized the teachers' profiles.
He continued listing the man's address, marital status, and other personal information.
“Keep him away from Secretary Seo.”
Chief Kwon blinked.
Yugam continued,
“He keeps trying to dig into confidential information from the chairman's office.”
“Teacher Choi from Class 2 is investigating confidential information?”
Chief Kwon immediately opened his work tablet and added the math teacher to a caution list.
Yugam paid no attention to Chief Kwon's reaction.
His eyes remained fixed on Jaekyung, who was surrounded by students and completely ignoring him.
She was smiling brightly.
Full of energy.
It was a side of her Yugam had never seen before.
“Teacher, our class has to win first place!”
“I really don't think I'm good enough. What should I do?”
“Hey! Don't pressure Teacher Seo. Then... second place?”
The students' chatter and fresh smiles made Jaekyung laugh freely.
She wanted to meet their expectations.
